Sucheta Dalal :Anti-encroachment drive: Activists come together in support of BMC officer
Sucheta Dalal

Click here for FREE MEMBERSHIP to Moneylife Foundation which entitles you to:
• Access to information on investment issues

• Invitations to attend free workshops on financial literacy
• Grievance redressal

 

MoneyLife
You are here: Home » What's New » Anti-encroachment drive: Activists come together in support of BMC officer
                       Previous           Next

Anti-encroachment drive: Activists come together in support of BMC officer  

May 21, 2012

NGOs and social activists have together written a letter to the BMC and Mumbai Police chiefs supporting the BMC staff for taking effective action against encroachments like hawkers and structures and making the Dadar station area for a good six weeks

 

Moneylife Digital Team

 

 

Leading civic activists and non-governmental organisations from Mumbai have lent their support to the civic body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) assistance commissioner DK Jain who has been allegedly held responsible by a politically motivated union for the death of newspaper vendor during his anti-hawker drives around Dadar station following a Supreme Court order.
 
According to the rules—hawkers at no-hawking zone, hoardings at traffic signals and authorised slum structures where alternate accommodation is given—are deemed as encroachment and have to be raised down or evacuated by the civic body.

NGOs (non-government organisations) such as India Against Corruption, Mumbai 227, Flank Road Citizens’ Forum and Moneylife Foundation have together written a letter to municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte and police commissioner Arup Patnaik supporting the BMC staff for taking effective action against encroachments like hawkers and structures and calling for a high-level understanding between municipal and police authorities to provide support while carrying out firm action against such encroachments.

“We, as voluntary organisations of the citizens also seek properly co-ordinated support from both authorities, to the staff of municipal wards and police stations, request both BMC and Mumbai Police co-ordinate actions of your staff to enable them to take effective steps against encroachments,” says the letter.

According to a news report, Brihanmumbai Vruttapatra Vikreta Sangh (BVSS), led by senior Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai, had called municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte with a demand that a First Information Report (FIR) be lodged against Mr Jain for the death of the vendor on 10th May after his illegal stall was removed, leading to a cardiac arrest. They alleged that Mr Jain had thrashed the vendor, which led to his death. The association had also called a day’s strike on 19th May demanding stern action against Mr Jain.

However, the BMC refuted all the allegations saying that the vendor died in hospital after his relative admitted him, when suffered the cardiac attack. 

Ashok Ravat, president of Citizens Forum, G/North and member of advance locality movement (ALM), Shivaji Park (Dadar), who is also spearheading the signature campaign, told Moneylife, “One ward (of BMC) has already contacted us for the help they require. Others will also seek assistance. Meanwhile, the movement is definitely gaining momentum.”


“This eviction drive has given complete relief to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic around the crowded Dadar station. The whole strike was politically motivated. The municipal commissioner himself has said on record that the cause of death has nothing do with the eviction drive,” says Nagesh Kini, a civic activist and also part of the campaign.

Bhaskar Prabhu, convenor Mahiti Adhikar Manch, a Right to Information (RTI) forum says that, “The BMC achieved what has been impossible in any other part of Mumbai that is in eliminating the hawker menace for a good six weeks. If we, the citizens fail to offer support, then cases of hawkers working with politicians and the police to attack and harass ordinary citizens who protest against them will only increase.”

The campaign is supported by eminent activists from various fields including Indrani Malkani, member of an ALM, GR Vora, a Mumbai-based RTI activist, Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz Foundation and Ashok Datar, a well know transport activist, among others. 

“With the support of citizens, G/North ward staff now feels empowered to continue the action against all types of encroachment,” adds Mr Ravat.


-- Sucheta Dalal